So u finished ur gre/gmat/ielts/toefl and are geared up to go abroad? studying abroad is a major decision in one's life, not only that of a student but also that of parents and family of student. It really depends where u want to study and what u want to study. Here are some brief considerations and decisions one should take:

• Personality: Studying abroad invariably means meeting new people and experiencing new cultures. If you are a asian (which i assume here), there will be a cultural difference, from the conservative to liberal society. If you feel you can't understand what the anchor is speaking in cnn/bbc, then you gotta think twice. If u want to go just because your neighbour is going, i feel sorry. Leaving your parents to go there and stay alone can be a challenge.

• Field of interest: There are certain fields which are great to be studied in the west-computer engineering (hardware), advanced computer science, biotech,etc to name a few. Some countries are traditionally great in certai fields-u.s (computer and arospace), u.k(arts), germany(mechanical), canada (agriculture and foods), france(fashion), italy(architecture), japan(electronics and related fields), eu(medicine). Once you decide the field automatically certain countries come to our mind. Deciding is a crucial part as it is a precursor to your prep. Going abroad for an mba sounds cool but u have to pay atleast 10 to 12 times the cost here(india).

• Country: Deciding a contry is easy, but is it feasible? Us , uk,canada, australia and singapore accomodate 96% of all foreign students. EU, though has a better education setup is tough to get into due to language barrier and a bigger cultural difference. Also is the tougher entry procedures in eu

• Finances: Arguably the part which worries students and parents alike. You/your parents have to have assets which can fund close to 75% of education, like funds , shares , house. For east-bound western students there's not much to worry as u save mammoth amounts of money. Highest amount of funding is given by nationalized banks and are cheaper and safer. Even some governments abroad sponsor loans. You can always avail the scholarships from universities abroad

• Interest and educational setup: This is individual's initiative. The western eductional setup is more practicalthan east (one reason y u have more inventors there). If you are not used to conceptual learning or do'nt possess decent analytical skills , please do'nt waste your money. M.s courses, especially in computer engineering differs a lot wat it is india(1980's learning) to wat's there. Recruiting companies demand more analytical capability than marks

• Future plans: Many people prefer staying there abroad than coming back to east due to job prospects and salaries. Some fields give good job profiles in india equally(mechanical , computers,medicine,biotech) than some fields(environment to name one). Be prepared to accept higher wages for living there, but be prepared to shed atleast 20% of your wage if u plan to come back.

• Staying and lifestyle: West is expensive compared to east. Managing ur finances can be a tricky part of staying. Staying with friends can always save u hunfreds of dollars or pounds. Only those who can manage their finances and live a flexible lifestyle can gel into the society,else u will remain an immigrant. Be ready to meet all types of people. If u are used to staying in a hostel, it will be pretty much easy but as most people are'nt exposed to hostels, living with friends mean a great deal of adjustment and sacrificing your programmes on tv at 9. Though house costs have drastically cone down.it's still expensive. Well, u r not used to adjustment or still empty up ur pocket money midway in the month? Stay back or change. Part-time jobs are an answer to woes,but with slowdown, they wo'nt come easy either.

• These are just a brief overview and do'nt substitute for an expert's advice. Be prepared for a culture shock (especially if u are'nt leaving in a big city) and language misunderstanding (accents and words vary from us to uk to oz). If u plan to go, start learning about there culture, watch cnn/bbc/discovery once a day. Get to know the companies there and go prepared there rather than becoming a laughing stock